~ Punch Punch Repeat ~

 Good Morning Friends & Folk ~

happy Wednesday to you all!

slightly overcast with a bit of a breeze here at the farm today...

but another beautiful day to be sure.

I'm working on the finish of a project

 that I'll be teaching at a Workshop in Ohio in October ~

{more details to come}

but here are a few glimpses of it thus-far:

seems as though I might just be...

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Cozy Autumn Farmhouse ~

 Greetings Friends & Folk!

~ and a happy most-beautiful Autumn October-ish day to you all...

it is a perfect day for hooking in my keeping room...

working on a new design called 

"Holly Olde Santa"  

{ from Notforgotten Farm™}

the late morning sun slips through my shutters next to my working chair ~

I've done a tiny bit of decorating for Autumn, 

~ but will be bringing more of my Halloweenies out soon... 

I think I might work in some of my hand spun wool yarn

to this fellow's beard and brow:

 

Last night I had posted to my members on my 

Out of Hand Rug Hookers Group {FB}  

to kindly share their collections of antique/vintage rug hooks...

here are a few of mine:

the Joan Moshimer hook from Kennebunkport, Maine 

was the very first hook I stared with over 30 years ago ~

I don't use bent hooks, 

but I do grab them for my collection when I see them while I'm shopping "oot & aboot" 

{if Joan doesn't spot them first!}

I do switch between hooks to keep my hand from getting too tired...

my ergo steel hook that Peter makes is my favorite, but I also use a miller ball

~  and an antique hook too.

{I keep them in my sliding lid needle box}

here is a different angle of the keeping room ~

 

my favorite Pumpkin guy

made by Becky Carney of A Wing and a Prayer ~ 

{{ you can find Becky on PFATT and Early Work Mercantile }}

and a small chalkware black cat from Misi Axel of Gable House Goods....

more goodies live in my Witches Cupboard all year long...

 

 Well my friends, my hook is calling me ~

time to get back to work!

Hoping your day is filled with wonderful Autumn Goodness!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ Sweet Summer Days ~

 Good Friday Morning

Friends & Folk!

oh our weather has been wonderful lately...

high & dry with enjoyable temps.

I enjoy stitching outside when I can, sitting quietly on the porch swing or patio ~

just listening to the sounds of our farm friends, birds and bees in the gardens.

I am working on Autumn/Halloween designs at the moment for cross stitch & punch needle...

I don't like to rug hook in the summer when it's too hot!

here is a small design almost ready to finish,

I'm pretty sure you can guess what it reads?

;)

 

Peter has made something in the woodshop

that this finished cross stitch design will be added to when complete ~

I think you'll like it!

{a blurry shot to keep you guessing}

in-between stitches,

I like to pause and be aware of my surroundings...

especially taking notice of how fast our plants have grown 

these last few weeks with all of the rain we've had ~

our nandina bushes already have tons of berries on them;

they are white now, and will turn a vibrant red come Winter.

some of our giant hosta have sent up their flow'ring spires and are ready to bloom... 

their purple petals contrasting beautifully with their deep green leaves.

...our entire farmyard fills with sweet annie each year!

we literally have to pull out many plants because it will take over ~ we do let many of the plants grow though, and how wonderful their scent is on the summer breeeze!

last year, 

one of our sweet annie plants reached a height of almost 7 feet tall 

and had a tree-like trunk!

 

Peter's Asiatic lily has 21 blooms!

we cannot wait for them to open, they are not only gorgeous

they smell heavenly.

you know where you are?

you're in the jungle, baby!

welcome to the jungle!

{oh...sorry...}

Hey Pete!

 

we have so many black eyed susans this year too !

this is the first one to open up....

can hardly see my planter behind all of the susy's,

 but I won't let peter pull them out!

 

and here is my shadow when I'm outside...

"roosty" {yeah, original name I know}

follows me around wherever I go and comes running when I call him <3 p="">

 

 I am off to process orders, pull weeds and then stitch.

Shop will be open here tomorrow if you want to come for a visit!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ All Hallows Eve ~

Merry Halloween!

A Blessed Samhain to you all!!

Tonight the winds will stir memories of our beloved folks 

who have passed on before us ~

🌜

Light a candle in their honor

and...set a place at your dinner table tonight for them 

while the veil is thin between their world and ours.

Welcome them home once again...

🎃

Here are a few of my very favorite antique postcards and photographs

of my very favorite 'holiday' ~

 

the photo below is so clever ~ 

but that child's face is telling another story altogether!

 

 and although the photo below is slightly creepy,

I love their dresses, basket and the clothesline behind them!

and here are a few favorite quotes for you too:

On Halloween, what bothers some
      About these witches, is how come
      In sailing, through the air, like bats
      They never seem, to lose their hats?
Hitchhiking owls, as we have seen,
      Ride nicely on this queer machine...
Another thing: if brooms can fly,
      Do witches keep them handy-by
      To sweep the kitchen floor with, say?
      Or do they have them locked away
      For private passage through the sky?
~David McCord (1897–1997), "Witch's Broom Notes"

 A gypsy fire is on the hearth,
Sign of the carnival of mirth;
Through the dun fields and from the glade
Flash merry folk in masquerade,
For this is Hallowe'en!
~Author unknown

They that are born on Halloween shall see more than other folk. 

~Saying of unknown origin

You wouldn't believe
On All Hallow Eve
What lots of fun we can make,
With apples to bob,
And nuts on the hob,
And a ring-and-thimble cake.
~Carolyn Wells

 

Backward, turn backward,
O Time, in your flight
make me a child again
just for to-night!
~Elizabeth Akers Allen

   

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori

~ Odds and Ends ~

Well 'the foot' needs a rest.

it hurts, is still swollen and now turning colors 

~ after breaking the heel a week ago today.

As such, 

Peter and I are cancelling our NEEDLE NIGHT here in the farm shop tonight. 

I have to get it better for the upcoming Stitching in the Valley retreat this coming weekend!

in other news,
I am still wanting to decorate my farmhouse for autumn,
but am limited of course, because of
'the foot'...

so here is the little bit I have accomplished:
🌜
 

I'm almost finished on the background of Santa Deer,

and will begin a new design today while elevating/icing this blasted foot.

hoping your day is filled with beautiful Autumnal things!!

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori

~ The 10th Month ~

 It's here.....

October

finally, my most-favorite month is upon us.

from beginning to end it is a joy-filled month ~

Beginning with our wedding anniversary on the 3rd, this marks our 30th year...

then on to decorating & cozy-ing up this old farmhouse 

with beloved things that have been resting all year.

although this month brings lots of changes, it keeps well our dear routines 

such as dyeing wool in the old cauldron out front of our shop and putting the herb gardens to sleep.

and of course, 

the very last day....

is

All Hallows Eve • Samhain • Hallowe'en

 Old Hallow's Eve 

~ however your heart wants it to be named,

a night of remembrance of our ancestors 

who have passed to the Summerland and wait for us ~

One of the changes I mentioned above, is ~

I will no longer be offering my wares at Early Work Mercantile.

Instead, 

I'll be offering them here on this blog, on a separate page titled 

"Goods For Sale"

you will find that link up above, under my Etsy shop thumbnail photos.

My dear friend Joan will be offering goods as well ~

we will be gleaning our antiques collections, downsizing our abundance of good-things,

and throwing in a smattering of our finished rug hookings, appliques, dolls, needlework, etc.

We will begin this venture in November, with a nod to Christmas Past ~

and will continue to update that page each month following

{{ with an announcement of the updates of course here and on FB. }}

We're looking forward with excitement to offer you wonderful things!

May your October be filled with starry skies, 

~ candy corn & pumpkin-spice everything...

🎃

 

Blessings from the Farm 

~ Lori